The Delhi high court on Monday sought a report from the Centre, the Delhi government and the police on the death last week of an 18-year-old college student of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Delhi high court on Monday sought a report from the Centre, the Delhi government and the police on the death last week of an 18-year-old college student of Arunachal Pradesh.

A division bench of chief justice NV Ramana and justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw took suo moto cognisance of the incident and issued notice returnable February 5.

Nido Taniam, also spelt as Tania, son of Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator Nido Pavitra, was allegedly beaten up by two shopkeepers on January 29 in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar market following a quarrel over his appearance and clothing. He died in a hospital the next day.

The bench said the capital belonged to everyone and the south Delhi incident highlighted the matter of grave concern. It also suggested that the government should publish advertisements asking people to be tolerant.

The bench also received complaints from several law researchers from northeast in the capital regarding the harassment they have to face at public places.

Police have registered a case of murder under section 302 (murder) of IPC and are probing the matter. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday demanded “immediate action” against two Delhi shopkeepers who allegedly thrashed Taniam.

Staging a protest outside Rajghat, Vijay Goel, president of the Delhi BJP, said the party was in solidarity with people from the northeast.